First Bill Cosby special in 30 years hits Comedy Central

Jul. 12, 2013
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Bill Cosby dances with his 'Cosby Show' co-star Tempestt Bledsoe on stage during the Jan. 4 episode of 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.' Will you be dancing for joy now that there's a new routine on the way? / Lloyd Bishop AP

by Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY

by Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY

Friday is Bill Cosby's 76th birthday, so it's only appropriate that he give his fans a gift. Thankfully it's not a sweater.

For the first time in 30 years, the comedian and groundbreaking actor will star in a TV concert special. Far From Finished hits Comedy Central on Nov. 24.

Cosby's reason for returning? "Because... funny is funny," Cosby said in a statement.

In 1983, Cosby performed Bill Cosby: Himself, a routine that covered the banality of family life with topics like weekends, dentists and raising children. In the now-classic stand-up (and sit-down) act, Cosby performed mostly while seated on a chair in the middle of a bare stage.

The act laid the groundwork for what he's best known for, the Emmy-winning The Cosby Show, which premiered on NBC in 1984 and starred the Huxtable family, an upper-middle-class African-American family in Brooklyn.

Far From Finished is compiled from Cosby's stand-up material from earlier this summer and will be directed by Robert Townsend.

Can't wait to watch the new routine? Cosby's 1983 classic is available on YouTube (Part 1, part 2). Need to be convinced it's worth it? Read a 30th anniversary tribute of the performance from comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Larry Wilmore and Ray Romano at GQ.

And for even more Cosby action, check out the sweater tournament he's hosting on his website. Vote for your favorite Cosby sweater and you'll be entered to win one of his books. (And check out all 131 of them over at Buzzfeed.) The winner will be announced Monday on the Today show.